Fishing-reel.



No. 7I3,37. Patented Nov. Il, i902.

J. H. ADAMS.

FISHHNG REEL.

Application med Jan. 29, 1902.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN HOWARD ADAMS, OF VVESTPARK, NEV YORK.

FISHlNG-REEL.

@LEEQFCATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 713,371, dated November 1 1, 1902.

Application filed January 29, 1902. Serial No. 91,759. (No model-3 To @ZZ whom. t'mcty concern.:

Beit known that l, JOHN HOWARD ADAMS, of /Vestpark, New York, have invented certain Improvements in Fishing-Reels,of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings,is a specification, like figures on the drawings designating like parts.

This invention has for its object the production of an actuating device for fishingreels, and particularly for fishing-reels of the powerful type usedjn fishing for tuna, tarpon, and other fish of the kind requiring powerful winding mechanism with capacity for paying out the line readily.

My improvements are directed toward means for enabling a rapid and automatic transition from the low power sufficient for winding in the line rapidly in the absence of tension upon it to a greater leverage and power capable of overcoming the d rag exerted by the heavy type of fish instanced above.

I have embodied these improvements in a handle or attachment capable of being Secured in place of standard types of handles without altering and distorting the structure, the parts of my improved handle being so disposed as to balance, thus affording a handle as easily operated as any in use.

The various features of my invention will be illustrated and described fully in the accompanying drawings and specification and pointed out in the claims.

ln the drawings, Figure 1 is a view in side elevation, illustrating a fishing-reel provided with a handle in the construction of which myimprovements have been embodied. Fig. 2 is a view showing the parts of said handle in section on the line :n Fig. 1, but separated from each other. Fig. 3 is a view of the handle similar to Fig. l, but showing the parts in their position of increased leverage. Fig. e is a View in section on the line y y, Fig. 3. Fig. is a view in side elevation of a modified form of handle, Fig. being a face elevation of the modified handle and Fig. 7 a similar view with the parts in position for increased leverage.

In the embodiment of my invention selected for illustration and description as a convenient form to enable a ready and complete understanding of myimprovements,referring to Figs. l to 4, the part designated by the reference-numeral l is a fishing-reel, which may be of any convenient type and is shown as having a common form of drag 2, against which the thumb or thumbs of the operator are applied when the line is running out rapidly, the drag being pressed against the fishing-line upon the rotating spool to serve as a brake upon the speed of the latter. Normally when the spool is at rest or when the line is ruiming out, as just described, the {ingergrip 3 of a handle or actuating means constructed in accordance with my invention will revolve in a circle the radius of which is indicated by the distance between the pivot 4E and the center of the finger-grip in its full-line position, Fig. l.l Also when the slack is being wound in the operator may rotate the finger-grip in this circle of small radius, thereby securing a high speed of the spool through the usual multiplying mechanism within the reel-plate and not illustrated. When, however, there is resistance to the winding in, in accordance with myinvention the radius of the circle in which the fingergrip portion of the handle moves will be considerably increased, with consequent increase in leverage of the handle, this increase in the instance illustrated bringing the lingergrip portion to the dotted-line arc of Fig. l. The means illustrated in the figures under description to accomplish this adjustment or variability of leverage comprise an attaching member 5 of suitable shape, which shape takes the form of a circular disk with a squared hole G, located eccentrically, to receive the usual squared head of the winding-spindle 7 of the reel, a set-screw or other suitable fastening means S serving to hold the attaching member -in place, it being convenient, though not necessary, to utilize the standard devices found on reels at present in the market to save the expense of alteration therein. Connected with said attaching member is an operating member 9, capable of adjustment to secure variable leverage, this operating member carrying the finger-grip 3 of the usual form and consisting of a peripheral strap of which'the part lO is secured removably, as by screws ll, permitting theparts to be readily separated.

It will be seen readily that upon rotation IOO of the operating member relatively to the attaching member the finger-grip will move in an ellipse around the pivotal point 4 and when at the point most distant from the plvotal point will have the greatest leverage.

As means to control the operation of the members relatively to each otherI have shown a spring l2, (see Fig. 4,) coiled around a stud 13 on the attaching member and engaging the strap member, as indicated, the effect of the spring being to maintain the members in the position of smallest leverage, which is the full-line position of Fig. 1, while against the action of this spring when the strain upon the spool is sufficiently great the ngers of the operator can move the strap or handle member around on the disk into the position shown in Fig. Il, the range of movement preferably being limited by suitable stops-as, for example, the projections 14 and 15, shown as formed integrally with the removble part 10 of the strap and engaging, respectively, the screw S. It Will thus be seen that as the finger-grip moves with such a short radius during paying out of the line there will be no danger of injury to the fingers of the operator through interference with its movements, the operator being enabled to grasp the base of the reel closely with the foreinger adjacent the periphery of the reel, applying his thumb to the drag in the usual manner well understood to all skilled in the art. He can, moreover, as already set forth, wind in slack quickly, but as soon as the strain comes on the line will have automatically the assistance of the greater leverage. Many modifications of the means for securing these advantages will occur to those skilled in the art, andI have shown in Figs. 5 to 7 one such modiication, in which the attaching member is shown as a two-armed lever 16, to which the handle member 17 isattached by screws 18, with nuts 19, the shanks of the screws playing in slots 20 in the lever, which slots are curved to cause outward movement of the lever under a vigorous Winding pressure, a spring 21 serving to retract the handle member when the strain is released.

Having described my invention thus fully, I wish it understood that I do not limit myself to the specic construction illustrated and described, nor in general otherwise than as set forth in the claims.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. An actuating device for shing-reels; comprising a lever of variable length; and means to vary automatically the length of said lever to increase the power thereof when a strain of predetermined strength is brought to bear on said reel during the operation of l winding` in.

2. An actuating device for fishing-reels; comprising an attaching member to be connected with the winding mechanism of the reel; an operating member connected with said attaching member and capable of adjustment to secure variable leverage; and means acting automatically to lower the leverage during the operation of paying out the line from said reel, and to increase the leverage during the operation of winding in the line under strain.

An actuating device for fishing-reels; comprising a disk member rotatable about an eccentric axis; and a handle member carried by said disk and provided withl a finger-grip, said handle member being movable around the periphery of said disk member to vary the leverage of said actuating device and means acting automatically to lower the leverage during the operation of paying out the line from said reel, and to increase the leverage during the operation of winding in the line under strain.

4L. As an article of manufacture; an actuating device for fishing-reels; comprising a lrdisk member provided with an eccentric pivot-hole to receive the usual Winding-post; a peripheral strap rotatable on said disk and provided with a finger-grip; and means to secure said strap removably to said disk.

5. An actuating device for reels; comprising a disk rotatable about an eccentric axis; a peripheral strap rotatable on said disk and provided with a finger-grip; and a spring, tending normally to hold said finger-grip in a position relatively near said axis.

6. An actuating device for reels; comprising a disk rotatable about an eccentric axis; a peripheral strap composed of a plurality of members embracing said disk and removable therefrom, said members being provided with a finger-grip; means to secure said members together; stop devices intermediate, and to limit the relative movement of said disk and strap; and a spring tending normally to hold said strap in position with said finger-grip relatively near saidaxis.

7. An actuating device for fishing-reels, comprising a lever having a plurality of members; and means acting automatically to dispose said members-in balance around the fulcrum when the strain on said reel is relatively light, and on one side of the fulcrum when said strain increases, substantially as described.

8. A variable powerhandle for fishing- IOO IIO

reels; comprising a compound lever; and re- Y JOI-IN HOVARD ADAMS.

Witnesses:

ALEXANDER C. PROUDFIT, HARRY H. WAL'roN. 

